Baselland Business 2/2023 English

Whether as a founding partner of
the "Swiss Innovation Challenge"
or with its "100 fürs Baselbiet"
initiative: BLKB promotes innovation
in Basel-Land - soon also
with a competence center for
corporate customers in Allschwil.
Why does BLKB promote
innovation?
Beat Röthlisberger: According to
the Cantonal Bank Act, we have the
mandate to contribute to the balanced
economic and social development
of the Canton of Basel-Landschaft
and the region of
Northwestern Switzerland. We want
to act as an innovation driver and
improve the conditions so that
promising and innovative business
ideas can be developed and implemented.
«100 fürs
Baselbiet»
«100 fürs Baselbiet» is
an initiative of BLKB,
the University of
Applied Sciences Northwestern
Switzerland
FHNW and the Standortförderung
(site promotion)
Baselland. Since
the beginning of 2020,
it has been supporting
innovative SMEs and
startups with a connection
to Baselbiet.
Currently, 36 companies
are being supported
with a total amount of
13.9 million Swiss
francs and consulting
services. During the
application process,
the business idea and
financial plan are
first examined. This is
followed by a pitch to
the Advisory Board. It
consists of well-known
company personalities.
www.blkb.ch/100fuersbb
Hannes Caj: Our innovation
promotion is based on several
initiatives that are interlinked and
that we are constantly optimizing.
The first was the launch of the
"Swiss Innovation Challenge" in
2014 together with the University of
Applied Sciences Northwestern
Switzerland FHNW and the Baselland
Economic Chamber. This gave
rise to the "100 fürs Baselbiet" credit
program at the beginning of 2020
(see box), which we have since been
able to develop into a program for
regional participation.
How is BLKB involved in the
"Swiss Innovation Challenge"?
Röthlisberger: We are the main
sponsor and contribute the expertise
of our client advisors. In addition,
as a member of the Steering Committee,
I am able to help shape the
event. I am always impressed by the
business ideas and passion of the
candidates. Last year, for example, I
was impressed by the third-place
winner, the medtech start-up
Spirecut. It develops and sells highly
complex instruments for hand
surgery.
Caj: Spirecut recently became part
of the "100 fürs Baselbiet" initiative.
Not least because of this, the startup
moved its headquarters from
Fribourg to Muttenz at the beginning
of the year.
What is the difference between
"Swiss Innovation Challenge" and
"100 fürs Baselbiet"?
Röthlisberger: The "Swiss Innovation
Challenge" gives us direct
access to innovative companies that
we want to attract to the region or
keep in the region with "100 fürs
Baselbiet". To this end, BLKB provides,
among other things, venture
capital for innovative projects that
find it difficult to obtain financing
through the usual channels - without
diluting its capital too much in
the process.
Recently, BLKB has even expanded
its financial commitment.
The keyword "equity investments"
was mentioned just now.
Caj: Thanks to a conversion option
in the BLKB loan, promising SMEs
and start-ups have been able to
convert their loan into equity
financing from BLKB since this year.
They benefit from this twice: the
financing does not have to be repaid,
and BLKB's credibility as a co-shareholder
helps in negotiations with
customers and investors.
"100 fürs Baselbiet" wants to
enable 100 Baselbiet-related
companies to take a decisive step
in their further development. Is
the initiative on track?
Röthlisberger: Absolutely. In the
target group, it has developed into
an important pillar of innovation in
the region of northwestern Switzerland.
Since its launch, over 300
companies have applied, and 36 are
now part of the initiative. In the
future, they will benefit from even
more intensive support.
In what way?
Caj: The next step in our innovation
support is the opening of a competence
center for startups and corporate
customers in the Alba House in
the new BaseLink site in Allschwil.
This will bring us even closer to the
companies and enable us to provide
them with optimum support in their
further development. The move-in is
planned for the first quarter of 2024.
Baselland Business 33